Energiesprong wins Gold World Habitat Award for Project Revolutionizing Home Retrofitting
Energiesprong is very happy to announce today that it has been awarded the prestigious Gold World Habitat Award. This award recognises Energiesprongs innovative and financially sustainable approach to addressing climate change and improving energy efficiency in the building sector.
Photo credits Felix Zahn
The Energy Challenge of Old Buildings
Our homes, buildings and neighbourhoods play a major role in the climate crisis. They are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as sometimes being uncomfortable and expensive to live in. However, retrofitting old buildings to improve their energy efficiency is and use energy positive materials often costly and time-consuming.
A Holistic Solution
The Energiesprong approach is developed to overcome these challenges. The approach itself is revolutionary, combining prefabricated insulated wall and roof panels, energy positive materials along with a range of smart green technologies. These prefabricated panels are directly attached to the existing building structure, which significantly expedites the construction process and minimizes disruptions for residents. The in-country teams support organisations to follow the Energiesprong idea and with financial and regulatory challenges, helping them to overcome potential stumbling blocks and implement a system unique to their needs.
Cost-effective, Sustainable and Transferable Retrofits
Energiesprong retrofits can be completed in as little as seven to ten days. They can achieve a remarkable 70-80% reduction in a building’s energy consumption, whilst generating their own energy through integrated renewable technology. Increasingly, the retrofits also use bio-based materials which have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional materials. To date, the Energiesprong Global Alliance has helped to implement over 10,000 projects across seven countries in Europe and North America, demonstrating its replicability in different contexts.
Recognition for Climate Impact
The Gold Award at the World Habitat Awards underscores its clear and efficient approach to addressing the climate, financial and regulatory challenges posed by old housing stock. It can also help to mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living and energy crises for tenants on low incomes.
Great start for a new Energiesprong year
Winning this award is a great start for all our teams and partners to keep working on our approach and make new connections to spread the Energiesprong spirit in 2024!
“We are very proud to win the award with the entire Energiesprong-movement and to have the opportunity to work together and learn from the other winners. We look forward to further developing the Energiesprong approach together, including by developing bio-based construction materials and working on the social transition within construction.”
– Sanne de Wit, Energiesprong